Come on. Good evening. It's September 11, 2024 Council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come toward a roll call. Mr. Dangler. Here. Dr. Vo. Here. Mrs. Widow's here. Dr. Celia's absent. Mr. Viera. I'm on tour to roll call. Mr. Dangler. Here. Dr. Vo. Mrs. Widis here. Dr. Celia Zapsen. Mr. Vieira. I'm here. Please all stand for the pleasure of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America, in Tudor Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, and liberty, and justice for all. Everyone, please remain standing for a moment, the silence of recognition of September 11th. Thank you. We'll now read the mission statement of the City Council. The Long Branch Mayor and City Council administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect, values, the diversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the quality of life for all who live here by making long branch a desirable place in which to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and expect the same in return. Madam Clerk. I hereby certify that this meeting has been published in the newspaper and accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act and post it as required by law. Thank you. I need a motion to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2024. So move. Second. Welcome. Mr. Dangler. Yes. Dr. Vogue. Yes. Mrs. Widow. Yes. Dr. Selly's absent. Mr. Viera. Yes. Motion passed. Ms. Wittes. Yes. Dr. Selly's absent. Mr. Viera. Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. Consideration of ordinance. The public here in the final consideration is none. Warners for introduction. I'll turn it over to our city attorney. Mr. Reino. Thank you, Council President. You have an ordinance that's on for introduction on the first reading is an ordinance that amends the provision of our code concerning the fire department and I just wanted to give you some context for that ordinance. You also have on resolution 226-24 which is a resolution that is approving the re-negotiation of the Collective Bargain Agreement with the Superior Officers in the Uniform Fire Division. As part of that settlement of that contract, there was an agreement that we are going to change the names of two titles. We're going to change the lieutenants. All lieutenants are going to be called captains and the captains are going to be called the battalion chief. The memorandum is clear that all that does is it does not any additional compensation, doesn't change the authority. It's just, it's the same number of ranks, it doesn't create any new positions. And when we do that in the collective bargaining agreement, we then have to change the table of organization, nomenclature, names that are used in the ordinance. So you'll see as we go through, we change the name of captain to batayan chief and lieutenant to captain. And once again, it's so that those two items are together. So I just wanted to explain why it was we were doing the ordinance and how it is that relates to the contract provision. Thank you. Ordinance 017-24. This is the first reading of the ordinance 17-24 entitled an ordinance amending chapter 45, fire department section 45-3, officers, powers and duties and 45-4, five fighters uniformed fire division, UFD. Summary of this ordinance, amends 45, five department, section 45-3, and 45-4 to update the titles to the command officers for the uniformed fire division. A near-emotion to introduce on the first reading, advertise and post according to law, to set the public caring for September 25, 24. So moved. Second. Both gone? Mr. Dangler. Yes. Dr. Vaux. Yes. Mrs. Wittes. Yes. Dr. Sely's absent. Mr. Vera. Yes. Ordnance 0-1824. An ordinance of the City of Long Branch approving and adopted a redevelopment plan for non-condemnation on Broadway and sixth avenue. Redevelopment area consists of block 268 lots, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 32, and 33. A summary, the purpose of this ordinance is to adopt a redevelopment plan to non-condemnation for the Broadway and the sixth avenue block. 268 lots, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, 32, 133. I need a motion to introduce the first reading, advertising polls according to law, and set the public hearing for October 9th, 2024. So moved. Second. Welcome. Mr. Dangler. Yes. Dr. Vogue. Yes. Mrs. Widiff. Yes. Dr. Selly's absent. Mr. Viera. Yes. Motion passed. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. Some moved second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? If there's anyone in the audience that has a comment to make, please step to the podium and stay your name and address clearly for the record. You all have five minutes and may only speak once. Thank you. My name is Paul Lugoso. And my purpose for today is to bring to your attention two issues. I'm an authorized representative of your citizens in Long Branch who are members of your Crossing Guard group who protect the kids and the citizens during the summer and also during the school year. As a representative, we've been in good faith bargaining with the township on a new contract that was already resolved in March. And we've been, and unfortunately we believe, there's been unnecessary resources spent with us chasing and trying to get that agreement just signed and dotted and moved on. Second issue is that at the end of the year, there was a snow day that was offered and given to the teachers in the town. On a non-inclement weather day, the supervisor of the crossing guards told the crossing guards to put in for that snow day. When payment wasn't received, we brought that to the attention of the town. And the town has now engaged us in conversation that's going to force federal litigation and unnecessary resources being spent by the town. So we're here to let you know that up front and straight to the town council versus through other channels because we would like to not do that. But this is going to cause more money spent on something that is a minor issue but not minor in the sense that the three hours that were not getting for each of the employees that was supposed to get the snow day, they depend on that money. Even though it's a small amount of money maybe to me or somebody else. And what was offered yesterday in a conversation with an attorney as well as the town really was a ridiculous comment. So we're going to be forced, unfortunately. We want to make sure that everybody is aware that this is going to result in some level of federal litigation. It's not going to be a local town matter and we don't want to do that. We've enjoyed an unbelievable great relationship with the town. There's never been any legal action. And the organization I represent or is local to 10 with the town. There's never been any legal action. And the organization I represent are his local 210 with the teamsters. So we just wanted to bring that to your attention. We felt it was important to address the town directly, as well as the town council, and bring that to everybody's, to, you know, front of mind. Thank you. Thank you. Well well after the public portion of our city administration will have a comment on that okay anybody else The Vincent Laporte 33 Ocean Taurus Long Ranch requesting one minute notification. Again tonight taxes taxes taxes. Plown after the last council meeting you continue to be a liar. You can continue to be a deflector. Your in essence align deflector. Speaking about taxes, you responded to a resident of this city, quote, Lou, meaning city attorney, is absolutely right about the demonstration program that's unique to Momoth County. There's assessments and it's based on a formula and quote, you're not getting at it this one, Pologne, not with a line deflection. Back in 2015 there was a heavy political process via the state to allow municipalities to opt out of the mom of county demonstration assessment program. Seven towns did. Alentown, Avon, Belmar, Marlboro, Milestone, Manuscon, and Wall. Clown, you being an integral part of this government in 2015. Instead of initiating an opt-out, you chose to stay in the program. You have a heavy hand in the current suffering of the people of this city that they're going through today with their inflationary assessments. Your interest in staying in the county assessment demonstration program continues to be the county program's ability to partially offset and hide the loss of property tax revenue due to developer tax abatements, which continues to place an additional tax burden on most of the taxpayers in this city, a destabilized tax base in this city, if ever there was one, it's a real mess. Tonight, Resolution 226, the Firefighters' Contract, it is what it is for now. Mr. Martin, do you have a figure on the value of the volunteer firefighters to this city? Yes or no? The fire fighters? The firefighters. No. I'll submit an op-run at tomorrow and suggest that the city take a look at middle towns and senate program for volunteer firefighters. Middle town has had a reputation for having one of the most successful volunteer fired departments in this state. We'd like to see the long-range volunteer firefighters taking care of as well on the par with Middletowns. Momoth County SPCA, Season Desist. Notice, to all directors of the Momoth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and Animals, be advised that conduct constituting an offense engaged in by an agent of the corporation shall be imputed to the corporation. Any violations of the animal cruelty statutes may involve the corporate directors. I respectfully submit that the Mammoth County SPCA cease and desist from the conduct herein described. This was respectfully submitted by Dr. Stewart Goldman, former Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer of the Mammoth County SPCA, and former president, treasurer of the Mammoth County SPCA. He goes on to further state the statutes of violations in regards to the needless killing of animals by the SPCA. Yes, the SPCA is a kill shelter, especially describing in detail the killing of feral cats. Dr. Stewart Goldman. One minute notification. Continues and requests everyone quote, let assistant prosecutor in charge of animal, Melanie Falco, know your displeasure with her lack of concern for lack of animal cruelty enforcement in Mommoth County." Falco, currently the one prosecuting two city employees on an animal control call. She can't even do her own job and she's expected to prosecute two city employees that were doing their job. And Mayor Palon, you surrendered those two city employees to her. This is junk government. I'll tell you it's right now. Melanie Falco doesn't have a case. Not only these two employees, you're going to take care of the prosecutor's office. They're going to take care of you, Palon, and this council for allowing what you allowed to happen to them. Pure junk government. Thank you. Anyone else? I need a motion to close the public portion. So move. Second. On your favor? Aye. Opposed? Can you fly going? Go ahead. On the favor? Aye. Opposed? Can I? Before I go on to the question. I'm sorry. Councillor President, can I just on two items that were raised? First, I haven't been handling the grievance with regards to the crossing guards, so I'm a little bit catching up here. There is a grievance procedure in the crossing guards contract. The monstances that the parties are currently within that grievance procedure in the crossing guards contract, the mine sentence that the parties are currently within that grievance process. The gentleman referred to federal litigation, I'm not really sure what that would be, if there's a collective bargaining agreement, normally there's an arbitration clause, if there's not an arbitration clause, it would be a state court matter to enforce the contract. But that having been said, my insin is that the parties and their attorneys have met once already and continue to meet. As to the status of the signed contract, I once again, my office isn't preparing it, but I certainly will find out as quickly as we can as to what that is. Secondly, with regards to the assessment demonstration program, and once again, I just wanna know for the record that Mr. LaPour has kind of another hit and run has come in and now has left. But if he was here I would explain to him that first nobody was given the opportunity to quote unquote opt out of the assessment demonstration programs and it's not seven municipalities it's actually two municipalities Marborough and Spring Lake and I know a little bit about it because I've been Marborough's township attorney for about 20 years now. And they were immediately sued by the county tax court. So there is litigation currently pending as to whether or not those municipalities can stay out. It was not an option. It was not an option to the governing body. It's just simply litigation. So I just want to make that clear for the record so that the council once again gets the straight answer as opposed to the council. Thank you. You can call your Mr. Shirley. You good? Yeah, exactly. The only thing I would add is that there is the next step that we've offered them and they can go forward from there. Okay. Thank you. Resolutions we can take a list of resolution as a consent agenda Roll call mr. Dangler. Yes, Dr. Vogue. Yes, Mrs. Widis. Yes, Dr. Sally is absent mr. Viera. Yes Applications and none Miss Alainius business for the good of the order Councilman dangler I would just like to thank everyone for coming out continue to be safe and Continue to sit prayer say prayers for those who lost love ones with 9-1-1 Thank you and God bless Thank you Council want to vote thank you council president. I would like to thank Thank you. Councilwoman Voell. Thank you, Council President. I would like to thank both the city and Senator Gopal for the beautiful ceremony that was lost in that event. It was a very heart-rendering heart, heart, heart-breaking ceremony, but very beautiful remembrance of life. As we all say, with September 11th, we will never forget, and it was just a visible passionate, impactful message from the city to say that we will never forget. So my thanks to all the people who put that ceremony together. It was beautiful. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Councilwoman Witties? I also would like to thank everyone for coming this evening and wishing you all good next two weeks and if you have any concerns we're here to listen to you. Please contact us. Thank you. Thank you. May it belong? Thank you, Council President. As Dr. Vot said today we had our 9-11 Remembrance Service and I want to take the time to thank all of our first responders for their service. And as she also said on this day and every day, we should never forget. There's a couple of events coming up that I'd like to mention. It's Hispanic Heritage Month, and at our Long Branch Arts and Cultural Center, we'll be having opening reception on September 17th from 6.8pm with live music food and art. All are welcome. We also will be having our uptown Broadway festival this Sunday September, sorry, it's Sunday September 22nd from 2 to 6pm on Broadway between Washington Streets and Norwood Avenue. I join us there for live music fun and family entertainment. Again, that's something new that we're doing this year. And finally, the City of Long Branch will be having a paper shredding event on November 2nd from 9 a.m. to noon at our new senior center, 85 second avenue. And this event is for Long Branch residents only. So thank you all for being here this evening. Thank you Mayor Pallon. And thank you, thanks for coming out tonight at the Fire Department, everybody's coming out and sharing your concerns. I hope everything gets worked out. And our hearts are thought with 9-11 members, all the first responders, as I watched that plane hit that building, it stayed with me and my hearts with them, with all the people that I lost, the loved ones that day. And it was a tough day. But that I want to say good night and thanks for coming. You know, motion with your adjourn? Joe Molyne. All in favor? All right. Opposed? Thanks, William.